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Kajuluri LP, Lyu QR, Doja J, Kumar A, Wilson MP, Sgrizzi SR, Rezaeimanesh E, Miano JM, Morgan KG. Calponin 1 inhibits agonist-induced ERK activation and decreases calcium sensitization in vascular smooth muscle. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18025. [PMID: 38147352 PMCID: PMC10805486 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Smooth muscle cell (SMC) contraction and vascular tone are modulated by phosphorylation and multiple modifications of the thick filament, and thin filament regulation of SMC contraction has been reported to involve extracellular regulated kinase (ERK). Previous studies in ferrets suggest that the actin-binding protein, calponin 1 (CNN1), acts as a scaffold linking protein kinase C (PKC), Raf, MEK and ERK, promoting PKC-dependent ERK activation. To gain further insight into this function of CNN1 in ERK activation and the regulation of SMC contractility in mice, we generated a novel Calponin 1 knockout mouse (Cnn1 KO) by a single base substitution in an intronic CArG box that preferentially abolishes expression of CNN1 in vascular SMCs. Using this new Cnn1 KO mouse, we show that ablation of CNN1 has two effects, depending on the cytosolic free calcium level: (1) in the presence of elevated intracellular calcium caused by agonist stimulation, Cnn1 KO mice display a reduced amplitude of stress and stiffness but an increase in agonist-induced ERK activation; and (2) during intracellular calcium depletion, in the presence of an agonist, Cnn1 KO mice exhibit increased duration of SM tone maintenance. Together, these results suggest that CNN1 plays an important and complex modulatory role in SMC contractile tone amplitude and maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lova Prasadareddy Kajuluri
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Department of Health SciencesBoston UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Present address:
Cardiovascular Research CenterMassachusetts General HospitalCharlestownMassachusettsUSA
| | - Qing Rex Lyu
- Vascular Biology CenterMedical College of Georgia at Augusta UniversityAugustaGeorgiaUSA
- Medical Research CenterChongqing General HospitalChongqingChina
| | - Jaser Doja
- Vascular Biology CenterMedical College of Georgia at Augusta UniversityAugustaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Ajay Kumar
- Vascular Biology CenterMedical College of Georgia at Augusta UniversityAugustaGeorgiaUSA
| | | | - Samantha R. Sgrizzi
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Department of Health SciencesBoston UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Elika Rezaeimanesh
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Department of Health SciencesBoston UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Joseph M. Miano
- Vascular Biology CenterMedical College of Georgia at Augusta UniversityAugustaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Kathleen G. Morgan
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Department of Health SciencesBoston UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
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2
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Fu W, Yang R, Li J. Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics reveal changes in cell heterogeneity during progression of human tendinopathy. BMC Biol 2023; 21:132. [PMID: 37280595 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01613-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Musculoskeletal tissue degeneration impairs the life quality and motor function of many people, especially seniors and athletes. Tendinopathy is one of the most common diseases associated with musculoskeletal tissue degeneration, representing a major global healthcare burden that affects both athletes and the general population, with the clinical presentation of long-term recurring chronic pain and decreased tolerance to activity. The cellular and molecular mechanisms at the basis of the disease process remain elusive. Here, we use a single-cell and spatial RNA sequencing approach to provide a further understanding of cellular heterogeneity and molecular mechanisms underlying tendinopathy progression. RESULTS To explore the changes in tendon homeostasis during the tendinopathy process, we built a cell atlas of healthy and diseased human tendons using single-cell RNA sequencing of approximately 35,000 cells and explored the variations of cell subtypes' spatial distributions using spatial RNA sequencing. We identified and localized different tenocyte subpopulations in normal and lesioned tendons, found different differentiation trajectories of tendon stem/progenitor cells in normal/diseased tendons, and revealed the spatial location relationship between stromal cells and diseased tenocytes. We deciphered the progression of tendinopathy at a single-cell level, which is characterized by inflammatory infiltration, followed by chondrogenesis and finally endochondral ossification. We found diseased tissue-specific endothelial cell subsets and macrophages as potential therapeutic targets. CONCLUSIONS This cell atlas provides the molecular foundation for investigating how tendon cell identities, biochemical functions, and interactions contributed to the tendinopathy process. The discoveries revealed the pathogenesis of tendinopathy at single-cell and spatial levels, which is characterized by inflammatory infiltration, followed by chondrogenesis, and finally endochondral ossification. Our results provide new insights into the control of tendinopathy and potential clues to developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weili Fu
- Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Runze Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
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3
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Ras J, Kengne AP, Smith DL, Soteriades ES, Leach L. Association between Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Firefighters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2816. [PMID: 36833514 PMCID: PMC9957465 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20042816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 45% of on-duty related mortalities were due to sudden cardiac death, with many of these fatalities related to cardiovascular disease and overexertion, while performing emergency duties. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to determine the association between cardiovascular disease risk factors and cardiorespiratory fitness in firefighters. A literature search of PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Embase, EBSCOHost, and ScienceDirect was conducted; the Rayyan® intelligent systematic review tool was used to screen and select studies for inclusion. The appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme toolkit were used for methodological assessment of included studies. Data were analyzed using the Review Manager 5.3 and MedCalc® statistical softwares to determine the effects of obesity (Z = 10.29, p < 0.001) and aging (Z = 4.72, p < 0.001) on cardiorespiratory fitness. Furthermore, there was a significant effect for cardiorespiratory fitness level on systolic blood pressure (Z = 5.94, p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (Z = 2.45, p < 0.001), total cholesterol levels (Z = 3.80, p < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Z = 4.44, p < 0.001), triglycerides (Z = 3.76, p < 0.001) and blood glucose concentration (Z = 4.78, p < 0.001). Cardiovascular disease risk factors and cardiorespiratory fitness were significantly and inversely associated in firefighters. Fire service departments should adopt behavioral intervention strategies to maintain optimum cardiovascular disease risk factor profiles and cardiorespiratory fitness among firefighters to ensure their occupational well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaron Ras
- Department of Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa
| | - Andre P. Kengne
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
| | - Denise L. Smith
- Health and Human Physiological Sciences, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA
| | - Elpidoforos S. Soteriades
- Healthcare Management Program, School of Economics and Management, Open University of Cyprus, Nicosia 2220, Cyprus
- Department of Environmental Health, Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology (EOME), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lloyd Leach
- Department of Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa
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4
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Aguilar VM, Paul A, Lazarko D, Levitan I. Paradigms of endothelial stiffening in cardiovascular disease and vascular aging. Front Physiol 2023; 13:1081119. [PMID: 36714307 PMCID: PMC9874005 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1081119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells, the inner lining of the blood vessels, are well-known to play a critical role in vascular function, while endothelial dysfunction due to different cardiovascular risk factors or accumulation of disruptive mechanisms that arise with aging lead to cardiovascular disease. In this review, we focus on endothelial stiffness, a fundamental biomechanical property that reflects cell resistance to deformation. In the first part of the review, we describe the mechanisms that determine endothelial stiffness, including RhoA-dependent contractile response, actin architecture and crosslinking, as well as the contributions of the intermediate filaments, vimentin and lamin. Then, we review the factors that induce endothelial stiffening, with the emphasis on mechanical signals, such as fluid shear stress, stretch and stiffness of the extracellular matrix, which are well-known to control endothelial biomechanics. We also describe in detail the contribution of lipid factors, particularly oxidized lipids, that were also shown to be crucial in regulation of endothelial stiffness. Furthermore, we discuss the relative contributions of these two mechanisms of endothelial stiffening in vasculature in cardiovascular disease and aging. Finally, we present the current state of knowledge about the role of endothelial stiffening in the disruption of endothelial cell-cell junctions that are responsible for the maintenance of the endothelial barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor M. Aguilar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States,Richard and Loan Hill Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Amit Paul
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Dana Lazarko
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Irena Levitan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States,Richard and Loan Hill Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States,*Correspondence: Irena Levitan,
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5
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Chiang HY, Chu PH, Chen SC, Lee TH. MFG-E8 promotes osteogenic transdifferentiation of smooth muscle cells and vascular calcification by regulating TGF-β1 signaling. Commun Biol 2022; 5:364. [PMID: 35440618 PMCID: PMC9018696 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03313-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular calcification occurs in arterial aging, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a key modulator driving the osteogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), leading to vascular calcification. We hypothesize that milk fat globule–epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8), a glycoprotein expressed in VSMCs, promotes the osteogenic transdifferentiation of VSMCs through the activation of TGF-β1-mediated signaling. We observe that the genetic deletion of MFG-E8 prevents calcium chloride-induced vascular calcification in common carotid arteries (CCAs). The exogenous application of MFG-E8 to aged CCAs promotes arterial wall calcification. MFG-E8-deficient cultured VSMCs exhibit decreased biomineralization and phenotypic transformation to osteoblast-like cells in response to osteogenic medium. MFG-E8 promotes β1 integrin–dependent MMP2 expression, causing TGF-β1 activation and subsequent VSMC osteogenic transdifferentiation and biomineralization. Thus, the established molecular link between MFG-E8 and vascular calcification suggests that MFG-E8 can be therapeutically targeted to mitigate vascular calcification. A molecular link between the milk fat globule–epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8), activation of vascular calcification driver TGF-β1 and osteogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells suggests that MFG-E8 could be a therapeutic target for vascular calcification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hou-Yu Chiang
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan
| | - Pao-Hsien Chu
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Chi Chen
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Hein Lee
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. .,Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. .,Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan.
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6
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Brandt MM, Cheng C, Merkus D, Duncker DJ, Sorop O. Mechanobiology of Microvascular Function and Structure in Health and Disease: Focus on the Coronary Circulation. Front Physiol 2022; 12:771960. [PMID: 35002759 PMCID: PMC8733629 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.771960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronary microvasculature plays a key role in regulating the tight coupling between myocardial perfusion and myocardial oxygen demand across a wide range of cardiac activity. Short-term regulation of coronary blood flow in response to metabolic stimuli is achieved via adjustment of vascular diameter in different segments of the microvasculature in conjunction with mechanical forces eliciting myogenic and flow-mediated vasodilation. In contrast, chronic adjustments in flow regulation also involve microvascular structural modifications, termed remodeling. Vascular remodeling encompasses changes in microvascular diameter and/or density being largely modulated by mechanical forces acting on the endothelium and vascular smooth muscle cells. Whereas in recent years, substantial knowledge has been gathered regarding the molecular mechanisms controlling microvascular tone and how these are altered in various diseases, the structural adaptations in response to pathologic situations are less well understood. In this article, we review the factors involved in coronary microvascular functional and structural alterations in obstructive and non-obstructive coronary artery disease and the molecular mechanisms involved therein with a focus on mechanobiology. Cardiovascular risk factors including metabolic dysregulation, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and aging have been shown to induce microvascular (endothelial) dysfunction and vascular remodeling. Additionally, alterations in biomechanical forces produced by a coronary artery stenosis are associated with microvascular functional and structural alterations. Future studies should be directed at further unraveling the mechanisms underlying the coronary microvascular functional and structural alterations in disease; a deeper understanding of these mechanisms is critical for the identification of potential new targets for the treatment of ischemic heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten M Brandt
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Caroline Cheng
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Division of Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Daphne Merkus
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Walter Brendel Center of Experimental Medicine (WBex), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich, Munich Heart Alliance (MHA), Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk J Duncker
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Oana Sorop
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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